As the Pickford Public Schools celebrated its’ 1922 – 2022 Panther Legacy in late March of this year, the Panther Legacy Project was launched by the Board of Education.  Its purpose, the creation of additional funding to supplement the financial needs of the Pickford Public School District, whose overriding goal is to provide the very best educational value to its students and the greater Panther Community.  In cooperation with the Chippewa County Community Foundation, the district has established the Panther Legacy Project Endowed Fund and the Panther Legacy Project Un-Endowed Special Projects Fund.  At the donor’s choice, funds received may be endowed, with only the earnings utilized thereby creating a perpetual funding base or un-endowed and available for district needs as identified from time to time, with donors choosing a “building/grounds naming opportunity” from a listing maintained by the district.  Naming opportunities begin at $100.

The initial funding of the Panther Legacy Project has commenced with three separate naming selections.  The Pickford Area Health Association Board of Directors has selected naming rights to the Curtain for the Performing Arts Center through the Panther Legacy Project Un-Endowed Special Projects Fund with a donation of $14,000.  Pickford Area Health Association directors established their own Special Projects Fund in 2019 with the sale of the Pickford Medical Center building and have supported various community health & educational needs since that time.  “We take great pleasure in helping to meet the needs of our Panther student body and community at large by providing the finishing touch to our new Performing Arts Center”, stated Patsy Galer, Health Association President.  

The remaining two selections are by David & DiAnn Firack, whose family has a four-generation involvement with Pickford Schools.  DiAnn’s parents, Howard & Betty Anderson, DiAnn, their sons Jason and Josh, and 3 of their 4 grandchildren, either attend or have graduated from Pickford Public Schools.  David has coached and currently serves on the Board of Education.  The Firacks’ have elected to utilize the Panther Legacy Project Un-Endowed Special Projects Fund and have selected one of the Center for Science Education classrooms in honor of their son Jason, middle school science teacher at PHS, with a $10,000 donation and the Center for Performing Arts Band Director Office with a donation of $5000, in recognition of DiAnn’s love for band while a student, and its impact on her lifelong love for music.  “The Panther Legacy Project is a perfect opportunity to support our school and the generations to come. Coupled with the ongoing building project -- the additional classrooms, performing arts, industrial arts, multi-purpose room and cafeteria -- support like this will ensure the very best educational value to the greater Panther Community”, stated the Firacks. 

Superintendent Angela Nettleton states, “Pickford Public Schools is grateful for the contributions by these donors, the partnership of the Chippewa Community Foundation to establish and maintain the Panther Legacy Project Fund(s), and the ongoing support from the Pickford Community as we continue to build great futures.   The Panther Legacy Project will allow for substantial future growth and opportunities for our students.”